Community & Economic Development Committee
June 24, 2024
Item (d)1 Economic Development Activities Quarterly Status Report Carlos Velazquez, Public Information Manager
Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs (OEDCA) Record Attendance at work2future’s Spring Career Fair
More than 550 attendees attended work2future’s Spring Career Fair with San José City College. More than 85
employers and resource providers were in attendance,
including Intermolecular, Tech Mahindra, Tesla, Sutter
Health, and CalTrans.
This Summer:
San José Works: Kickoff in June for a six-week long
summer work experience program for more than 388
San José youth from low-income and underserved
communities.
Pathways to Self Sufficiency: Launch of six-month
paid work experience program for 40 unstably
housed adults.
Upcoming Career Fair: August 7, 2024, at the
Mexican Heritage Plaza.
April 2024 2
City Supports Launch of Spanish-Language Female
Entrepreneurship Program
In April, Prosperity Lab launched first of three
cohorts of the MEE – Motivando, Educando,
Empoderando (Motivate, Educate, Empower)
program, sponsored by OEDCA.
27 active participants enhancing skills such as
leadership, financial management, networking,
nutrition, and stress management, plus 1:1
business skill advising.
Cohort #2 begins July 9, visit prosperitylab.org
for more information and to sign up.
April 2024 3
MOMENT Paseo Launches with Five New Businesses
MOMENT Paseo is the first stage of a
Downtown Pop-up Retail program which
already includes the existing MOMENT
San Pedro Square storefronts.
MOMENT Paseo are two storefronts
featuring five new businesses along
Paseo de San Antonio:
La Paloma Imports
MiGi Cera Candles
Cositas Conteras
Bad Witch Crystals
Plant Slut
May 2024 4
City Wins Awards for Holiday San José Shop Local Campaign OEDCA received two awards at the California
Association of Public Information Officer (CAPIO)
annual conference for the Holiday San José shop
local campaign: an EPIC award in the ConsultantSupported Comms/Marketing Plan category and a Best in Show award.
“Every element of this campaign is incredibly
impressive….This is such a great way to showcase
the community and foster connection between local
businesses and community members. Job well
done!” – CAPIO
www.sjeconomy.com/shoplocalsj continues as a
general “Shop Local San José” page with regular
spotlights on social media, @SJEconomy
May 2024 5
City Brings San José Entrepreneurs Together to Learn and Connect to Resources
200+ entrepreneurs attended OEDCA’s Small
Business Empowerment Day event May 20.
Special guest California State Treasurer Fiona
Ma shared how California is helping to invest in
local communities and small businesses.
Workshop topics included How to Use AI to
Enhance Your Small Business and Quick and
Budget-Friendly Marketing Hacks.
Visit sjeconomy.com or follow @sjeconomy on
social media to sign up for a monthly newsletter
and receive regular and monthly listings of free
small business workshops.
May 2024 6
Legal Services for San José-Based Small Business Owners The City of San José, together with partner Elevate
Community Center, is offering free legal services for
San José-based small businesses.
18-month program will support contract drafting and
review, litigation, incorporation and formation services, and more.
Services also offered in Spanish and Vietnamese.
July 18: Small Business Legal Advice Clinic in San José May 2024 7
CityDance San José Returns to Downtown for Eighth Year
CityDance provides professional dance lessons followed by dancing with a live band or DJ + free admission into the San José Museum of Art.
Dates and music genres this year are:
June 20: Salsa
July 18: Bollywood
August 15: Vogue / Waacking
September 19: Country
Upcoming/ongoing summer events Downtown include:
Pobladores Night Market (Thursdays thru August)
Music in the Park (Four more concerts thru September) Starlight Cinemas (Begins July 6 with Barbie)
Dine Downtown (July 11 – 21)
Viva CalleSJ (September 8)
Urban Vibrancy Block Parties (June 20, July 18,
August 15) June 2024 8
San José Ranked #1 City in U.S. for Small Businesses
Biz2Credit’s 2024 Annual Top 25
Cities for Small Business Study
measures annual revenue, credit
score, age of businesses among
small businesses in San José.
9 OEDCA’s Corporate Outreach Team Grows
OEDCA’s Business Development team welcomed
Senior Executive Analysts Noëlle Rabago and Doug
Moody in April.
Noëlle and Doug will:
Strengthen relationships with and outreach to San
José’s medium and large companies;
Work to attract and retain companies in high tech
(AI, manufacturing, semiconductor and clean
technology);
Implement and manage policy initiatives that
support San José’s economy.
June 2024 10
Community & Economic Development Committee
June 24, 2024
Item (d)1 Economic Development Activities Quarterly Status Report Carlos Velazquez, Public Information Manager
Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs (OEDCA) 11